Sorry for the long wait, i've been grounded off the computer. I can get on, but only for small amounts at a time. sry.
Flashback
"You need to tell us Ulrich, we won't ever look at him the same now until we know what happened." Yumi says quietly.
"Don't ask me to do that, I just can't." Ulrich says.
"Ulrich we need to know." Jeremie says more forcefully.
"I can't do that!" Ulrich yells before turning away and running from sight.
End Flashback(Yumi P.O.V.)
I walked away from the factory, going to the most likely spot Ulrich would be. He has this tree in the park that he always goes to when he's upset. I walk in the park, trying to remember where that particular tree was.
"If you came to get me to tell his secret, it's not going to work." Ulrich says. I smile. How romantic, the ominous voice from nowhere. I look up and sure enough, there he is, sitting on a low branch.
"I didn't. I came to apologize. We, no I shouldn't have asked you to betray his trust. And I also came to give you a proper thank you."
"A thank you? For what?"
"For what you did on Lyoko."
"I was being stupid."
"Did you mean what you said?" I ask, wanting confirmation it wasn't a dream. Last night I had a nightmare again about how Ulrich started dating Sissi…
"With all my heart." He replies.
"Then you did the right thing. I don't think anyone else would have been willing to sacrifice himself so that his loved ones could stay alive. Even if it's only for one more battle."
"Thank you Yumi."
"Now come down here and give your girlfriend a kiss." I say sweetly as he jumps down.
"Girlfriend? I don't remember ever asking you out…"
"Well, I believe I am giving you the perfect opportunity right now."
"I see. Yumi will you... will you go out with me?"
"Yes I will." I say and throw my arms around him. Kind of hard considering he's just barely taller than I am. (A/N: This takes place about a year after the end of season 1. That's why they're in 9th grade. I made Ulrich have a little growth spurt. He is about an inch taller than Yumi)
Ulrich pulls away, only to give me a sweet kiss.
"Was that good enough for our first kiss?" He says.
"Perfect." I reply and kiss him again. It was there that Jim found us.
"Hey you two, break it up. Ishiyama, I have been looking all over for you, the principal needs to see you."
"Why Jim?"
"You'll find out soon enough. Stern, you might as well come too, this concerns you as well."
"Okay Jim." Ulrich, Jim, and I walk off to the school (Ulrich and I holding hands of course) and to the principal's office. It's there that we see Macas, sitting in the outer office, drawing a picture.
(Macas P.O.V.)
I quickly stash my drawings and homework in my backpack and head inside with Ulrich and Yumi.
"Yes, Ms. Ishiyama, Mr. Stern, Mr. Keloly, welcome. Ms. Ishiyama, you may have a seat. I'm sure the gentlemen would be perfectly fine standing." I give a nod to Yumi and she sits down in the only chair.
"Jim, you may leave now. I believe I can handle this."
"Yes sir." Jim leaves.
"Yes now, I have been informed that Mr. Keloly here has hurt you Ms. Ishiyama. In the description of the witness, you were in the field when Mr. Keloly punched you in the stomach. Then he proceeded to ruthlessly punch and kick you until Mr. Stern over here decided to intervene. He knocked out your assailant and carried you away. The witness then said that she overheard a conversation between Mr. Stern and Ms. Ishiyama. She was saying that she didn't want to turn in Mr. Keloly, but Mr. Stern was arguing against it. He wanted him to be brought to justice, and then the witness couldn't hear anymore."
We all stand (in Yumi's case sit) there shocked. I would beat Yumi ruthlessly in a field? No way!
"Sir, that's not true! Macas did not attack me!" Yumi was practically in tears.
"I didn't do it." I say, hopelessly defending myself. I had already explained myself before; he did not trust me.
"And I did not knock him out!" Ulrich says.
"Unfortunately, I am disinclined to believe you. Mr. Ishiyama called me on Sunday and told me that his daughter had come home wounded, and that he believed it was Mr. Stern and his friend, Mr. Della-Robbia. Mr. Della-Robbia has a record of previous times he has gotten in trouble."
Yumi looked shocked that her father would do that.
"I also told him that I believed that Ulrich and Odd would not do that!" Yumi says. She is nearly crying, I can see the tears welling up in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, but victims have been known to defend their attackers. According to my witness, you did just that."
"Why would Macas hurt Yumi, he had absolutely no reason to." Ulrich says.
"Did you read the school paper this morning? It had an article…" Mr. Delmas proceeded to explain what had been in the article. I didn't really listen, I had just thought of something…
"Sir, how do you explain that your witness said that I attacked Yumi, but Yumi's father said that Ulrich and Odd did it?" I ask after he had finished.
Ulrich looks relieved.
Finally, a loophole in the story, something to prove it false.
"I actually believe what Mr. Ishiyama said was true, except that Mr. Stern used Mr. Keloly to hurt Ms. Ishiyama so that he could rescue her. In order to impress her."
Damn. He figured some way around that. What else could I use to prove my innocence? I am not going to tell him I am not hurt from Ulrich's attack, I would have to show him my bruises and that would make it worse. I can't think of anything else that would help me…
"There is one last bit of evidence that proves you're guilty. Last Friday, we installed new security cameras. They caught Mr. Keloly beating Ms. Ishiyama."
WHAT? How could he have done that? I never have done that; there is no way he could have proof from a security camera!
"This is an original CD from the camera by the field. I will play it now."
(Ulrich P.O.V.)
We stare in horror as he plays the CD on his computer. It shows A kid who looks a lot like Macas walking up to Yumi in the field, and push her a little off screen. We see her slap him and he falls back a little, back into screenshot. He punches her in the stomach hard and she falls to the ground. Macas starts to hit and kick her while she is on the ground. Then it shows me. I fly onscreen and knock Macas to the ground with a flying kick. He hits the ground, already unconscious. I look over at Macas with a look that could kill, then pick up Yumi and carry her off screen. The movie ends, and we just stand in shock.
"Because of the school constitution, and the fact that you remain adamant that you are innocent, you will be given a trial with your peers as the Jury." Says Mr. Delmas, breaking the silence.
"Thank you sir."
"I don't know what good it will do to have a trial, this clip is certifiable evidence. You will be expelled and sent away. I am sorry."
"I understand Mr. Delmas, you are just doing your job." Macas says.
"Sir, can I have that CD? I would like to look at it." I say quickly.
"I'm not sure. How do I know you will bring it back?"
"If I don't bring it back in time for the trial, expel me too." I say.
"Okay, I understand. Just know that I don't want to expel you. But I will keep you to your word. I will sign the cover of it to make sure this is the one I get back." He signs it with a black sharpie and hands it to me.
"Thank you sir." I say, and help Yumi get out of her chair. She is still limping slightly, William really hurt her badly. Mr. Delmas notices and looks concerned.
"Ms. Ishiyama, are you hurt? Do you want to go to the infirmary?"
"No thank you sir, I will be fine." Yumi says and we walk out of the room, followed by Macas.
"Okay, I trust you Macas. I know that all of us know that you never hurt Yumi, and that I never had to stop you. I don't want you expelled any more than Yumi does." I say.
"Thanks. Why did you want a that CD? It's not like there's much to study."
"I'm going to have Jeremie take a look at it and see if it has been tampered with."
"But you heard him, he said it came directly from the camera. No possible way it could have be changed."
"I know."
"Macas, I have to apologize for my father's actions. I did not realize he would take it to this extreme." Yumi says, so nicely it was hard to realize that she changed the subject.
"That's okay Yumi. I understand what it's like to have a father who takes things to the extreme." Macas says. I give him a look.
Does he mean what I think he means? It seems like he wants to tell her.
"So does this mean you two finally got together?" I smile. The ever-observant Macas. He noticed that while walking, I immediately took hold of Yumi's hand.
"What do you mean finally? You've only been here a couple of days!" Yumi says.
"Yah, well it was obvious from day one."
"Yah, everyone seemed to know it but us." I remark, and we laugh.
"I'll see you later Macas. I've got to go home. That is if Ulrich wants to take me home now…"
"Of course. I'll meet up with you at dinner okay?" I say
"Sure."
"See you later." I say and walk with my Japanese girlfriend towards the front gates.
(Macas P.O.V.)
I wave goodbye to Yumi and Ulrich, and look at my watch.
It's 6:15. I'd better hurry or I'm going to miss my meeting with Millie.
I walk over to the cafeteria and see little Millie standing there with a tape recorder.
"Hello, you wanted to ask me some questions?" I say.
"Um yes. If you don't mind."
"No of course not."
"Okay, you're good friends with Ulrich Stern, right?"
"Yes, fairly well."
"What do you think about the whole affair?"
"That depends on what affair you're talking about."
"You mean you don't know?"
"I have no clue what you're talking about."
"Well, I got an anonymous tip this morning saying that you and Yumi Ishiyama were going out behind Ulrich's back."
"What?"
"And that you and Yumi got in a fight over in the field. Ulrich then came to her rescue and knocked you unconscious because he was jealous." Millie says, a little too excited.
"Okay, do you mind if I set your information straight?"
"Sure, but it was in this morning's newspaper. The whole school has been talking about it. That's why I was surprised you didn't know."
Oh, so that's what the principal was talking about.
"Oh great… Anyway, first off, Yumi and I are not dating in any way whatsoever. Second, I did not attack Yumi in the field so Ulrich did not have to come to her rescue. I don't know where you got that tip, but someone was probably just spreading rumors."
"Oh. I'm sorry for the mix up. We'll print the corrections in tomorrow's paper."
"Thank you for talking to me. I don't want to have that kind of reputation."
"No problem."
I walk away shaking my head.
How could this mess have started? Why is there this big deal about me and Yumi having a fight? I have no clue where that would have even started. Yumi has been limping, maybe she did get in a fight. But why does everyone think it's with me?
(Ulrich P.O.V.)
"Hey Yumi?" I say to Yumi. We are walking home after we talked to Macas, and have been quiet this entire time,
"Yes Ulrich?"
"This is not good."
"I know."
"How are we going to explain this to Macas? That a demonic artificial intelligence possessed William and had him attack you, then tampered with the tape to make it seems as though he did it? It's kinda far fetched."
"So that's what you think happened? You think XANA modified the CD so it looked like it was Macas attacking me and not William?"
"Yes. You notice how you never clearly saw Macas' face in the entire clip? We assumed it was him because of what he was wearing. All we really saw was the top of his head."
"I guess so. Why did you want the CD?"
"If XANA modified it, then I think Jeremie can un-modify it."
"I hope so." Yumi said leaning her head on Ulrich's shoulder.
"Are you still mad about the William thing?" She asks after a minute.
"Not really. I now know that XANA tweaked the circumstances to make it look that way. Probably to split us up. Here we are." I say as we arrive at her house.
"Thank you for walking me home Ulrich." She says and walks up to the door.
"What? No goodnight kiss?"
"Hmm…" she says sweetly. She comes back down and gives me a long tender kiss, only breaking apart for air.
"Goodnight…" She says and walks into her house.
"Goodnight… my love." I say quietly. Then I turn around and begin my walk home.